Assigned to FIN                                                                                                                          FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2443

 

bond election pamphlets; disclosures

 

Purpose

 

Expands bond election informational pamphlet content requirements and the time frames for mailing pamphlets certifying bond election results.

 

Background

 

Informational pamphlets have been required for bond elections since 1994. Statute requires the pamphlet to be mailed to registered voters within 10 to 40 days prior to a bond election (ARS §35-454). Currently, the pamphlet must include the amount of the bond authorization, maximum interest rate of the bonds, estimated debt retirement schedules, source of repayment and estimated costs of issuance. The pamphlet must also include the estimated tax impact for residential, commercial and industrial properties as determined by the governing body of the political subdivision.

 

H.B. 2443 requires the governing body of a political subdivision to include in the informational pamphlet the estimated tax rate impact on the valuation of agricultural property and on residential property with a full cash value of $100,000. This bill also expands the time frames for mailing pamphlets certifying bond election results.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Increases, from 40 to 50, the number of days before bond elections a governing body of a political subdivision is permitted to mail informational pamphlets to the home of each registered voter within the subdivision.

 

2.      Expands the informational pamphlet contents to include the estimated tax rate impact on the valuation of agricultural property and on all owner-occupied residential property with a full cash value of $100,000.

 

3.      Requires the tax rate impact to show the projected average annual cost of the bond authorization, including principal and interest, over the life of the bond.

 

4.      Requires the estimated total cost of the bond to be disclosed in bold faced type.

 

5.      Changes the time frame for a governing body to hold a special meeting to certify the voting results from within one week from the twelfth day following the elections to within 20 days after the election.

 

6.      Specifies variations between the actual annual and total costs and the estimated costs do not invalidate the election or bonds.

 

7.      Makes conforming changes.

 

8.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

WM                 3/19/02            DPA    6-2-0-2

3rd Read           4/2/02              DPA    36-19-5-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 11, 2002